Galápagos and Machu Picchu Tour with Lindblad Expeditions

DAY 1 – QUITO, ECUADOR

Arrive in Ecuador, either in Quito, Ecuador’s capital city in the Andes, or in the coastal city of Guayaquil, for an included transfer to your convenient hotel for an overnight stay. Both cities are well-served by international carriers, and Galápagos flights start and end in Quito with a stop in Guayaquil. Guests in Guayaquil stay at the locally owed Hotel Oro Verde and have the choice of several hotels in Quito, including a convenient airport hotel.

Arrive just one day earlier and join the See Quito Pre-Voyage Extension. You may opt for a pre-voyage extension to Mashpi Reserve in the tropical Andes outside Quito, a biodiversity hotspot. Or choose to reserve additional hotel nights and tours in Quito or Guayaquil.

DAY 2 – GUAYAQUIL / GALAPAGOS ISLANDS / EMBARK SHIP

This morning, fly to the Galápagos and board National Geographic Endeavour II. After lunch, begin your exploration of the islands and their remarkable wildlife.

DAY 3-8 – EXPLORING THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

Listed below is a sample of islands you may visit during your expedition. All ship itineraries are subject to Galápagos National Park regulations.

North Seymour: Follow coastal trails past playful Galápagos sea lions on this wildlife-rich central island. Continue inland through a silvery forest of endemic palo santo trees, where frigatebirds nest, blue-footed boobies dance and where you may also encounter prehistoric-looking land iguanas feeding on cactus.

Isabela: Cross the Equator at Volcán Ecuador, the northernmost of Isabela’s six great shield volcanoes. Keep an eye open for whales and dolphins, sea turtles and the elusive ocean sunfish. Over two days, land in the footsteps of Darwin and Melville, and look for wildlife along the wildly eroded volcanic shore.

Fernandina: One of the most active oceanic volcanoes in the world, Fernandina is the youngest and most pristine island in Galápagos—and home to the strange flightless cormorant, Galápagos penguins and the largest marine iguanas. Hikes ashore lead across impressive recent lava flows.

Española: See swallow-tailed gulls, Española mockingbirds, Nazca boobies and, seasonally, the world’s only population of waved albatross at this birdy paradise, also home to vividly colored marine iguanas. Watch sea lions on the white sand beach and snorkel offshore at Gardner Bay.

Floreana: Follow a trail past a pink-tinted lagoon frequented by flamingos. Snorkel among sea lions and abundant fish, or cruise along Champion Islet by Zodiac. Visit the famous barrel at Post Office Bay.

Santa Cruz: Visit Puerto Ayora, the largest town and headquarters of both the Galápagos National Park and Charles Darwin Research Station. See the monument to Lonesome George and tour the giant tortoise breeding corrals. See the giant tortoises roaming in the wild in the lush, green highlands.

Bartolomé: Climb the steps to the summit of this 300-foot volcanic wonderland for stunning views. Explore, swim and snorkel from the beach. You might even see Galápagos penguins, one of world’s rarest.

Santiago: Explore tide pools and look for fur seals sheltered in quiet grottos of black basalt. Swim, snorkel, kayak and paddleboard along Santiago’s spectacular coast, and explore an enchanting coastal forest where Charles Darwin once walked.

Genovesa: Sail across the Equator to the remote northern realm of the Galápagos, surrounded by warmer tropical waters.

San Cristobal: Search for red-footed boobies and the endemic mockingbird and lava lizard—found only on this easternmost island. Dig your toes into the powdery white sand at a gorgeous beach fronted by iconic Kicker Rock. Explore Baquerizo Moreno, where sea lions thrive in the middle of town.

DAY 9 – DISEMBARK SHIP / GUAYAQUIL / LIMA, PERU

Depart Galápagos this morning and fly to Lima, Peru, via Guayaquil. Check into the Belmond Miraflores Park, set on a wide promenade overlooking the Pacific, where you’ll spend two nights.

DAY 10 – LIMA

Explore World Heritage-designated colonial Lima this morning, where you’ll stroll the Plaza Mayor and delight in a private welcome lunch with a special musical presentation at Casa Aliaga, one of the oldest houses in Lima. Then visit the extraordinary Larco Museum dedicated to pre-Columbian art. Return to your hotel with dinner on your own to sample local fare.

DAY 11 – LIMA / CUSCO / SACRED VALLEY

Board a short scenic flight to Cusco this morning and continue to Moray—a visually stunning Inca site with dramatic agricultural terraces in the heart of the fabled and fertile Urubamba Valley. After lunch and an opportunity to experience a local market, check into your hotel. Sol y Luna, a Relais & Chateâux property, is where you’ll stay in individual casitas set in verdant greens.

DAY 12 – SACRED VALLEY

Spend the day exploring the archaeological sites and culture of the Sacred Valley in the company of National Geographic expert Peter Frost (or a colleague), who has lived and worked in Peru for decades. He or a colleague joins you for a talk at your hotel and a visit to the massive Inca stone fortress of Ollantaytambo, set above a thriving Inca community.

Lunch is at a working, family-owned hacienda, where you’ll be treated to a show of Peruvian Paso horses, and National Geographic grantee Nilda Callañaupa, founder of El Centro de Textiles Tradicionales de Cusco, demonstrates Inca weaving traditions. Don’t forget to pack your duffel bag for your 2-day trip to Machu Picchu.

DAY 13 – SACRED VALLEY / MACHU PICCHU

Marvel at the dramatic scenery and life along the river en route this morning by train to Machu Picchu, the Inca royal retreat famously introduced to the world by Hiram Bingham in the April 1913 issue of National Geographic magazine. Explore over two days in the company of your hand-picked tour director and local guides. Lunch and dinner at the hotel.

DAY 14 – MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO

Awaken this morning at Machu Picchu, where your local and veteran guides share their intimate understanding of this site, focusing on the history and far-reaching cultural influence. After lunch, return by train and bus to Cusco—the center of the Inca universe, a burgeoning cultural capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Check into the Belmond Hotel Monasterio on Plaza Nazarenas in the heart of Cusco for two nights. Occupying a monastery founded in 1592, the hotel—like much of colonial Cusco—is built atop Inca stones.

DAY 15 – CUSCO

Explore the magnificently ornate 17th-century cathedral, sacred Inca Temple of the Sun and other treasures of Cusco. Visit nearby Sacsayhuamán, where a series of imposing terrace walls, the most impressive yet, command views over the city. Relax, shop or visit one of Cusco’s many churches and museums this afternoon. Dinner is on your own tonight.

DAY 16 – CUSCO / LIMA

After breakfast and a final morning at leisure, say goodbye to the Land of the Inca and fly from Cusco back to Lima, connecting to flights home. Depending on your flight schedule, optional rooms at the Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport Hotel are available, or join the Upper Amazon Expedition aboard Delfin II.

Originally constructed to navigate Norway’s famed Hurtigruten, or Coastal Express, her high degree of maneuverability, ideal size, and platform for discovery made National Geographic Explorer a natural choice for addition to the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet. Her rebuild drew on 50 years of pioneering expedition history and expertise.

Today, National Geographic Explorer is a purpose-built expedition ship. She is a fully stabilized, ice-class vessel with an ice-reinforced hull, enabling her to navigate polar passages while providing comfort, elegance and a deep connection to the environment.

An authentic expedition ship, purpose-engineered for blue water and polar exploration
National Geographic Explorer is equipped with a roster of tools for exploration and a well-appointed interior with vast expanses of glass for an unprecedented connection to the environment.

The ship is devoted to exploration—from her open Bridge, and the Chart Room below it, to her high-perched observation deck with its aqueous light and compelling 24/7 views.

National Geographic Explorer recently debuted updated suites, enhanced with the sleek, Scandinavian design that has become the hallmark of our polar fleet.

Public spaces include three dining areas; global gallery; library, lounge with bar and state-of-the-art presentation facilities; observation lounge; mudroom with lockers for expedition gear; plus open access to the Bridge, the Captain, officers, and on-duty wildlife spotters. Meals are served in the dining room, Bistro bar, or the Observation lounge, at a single seating with unassigned tables for an informal atmosphere and easy mingling. Menus feature sustainable choices, local where possible.

Enjoy Exclusive Amenities When You Book a Suite

The suites aboard the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet are your elegant retreat at sea, featuring spacious living areas and incredible views that immerse you in the beauty of your marine surroundings. Now, booking one of these beautifully appointed accommodations comes with even more benefits. The Suite Exclusives package gives guests staying in eligible cabins* access to an array of amenities and perks designed to enhance your on-board experience and help make your voyage all the more memorable.